Page 73 of Reckless
“How very wise of you, Enforcer.” I wring out my hair one last time as I scan the alleyway we’ve crawled into. It’s shadowy now, helping to hide us in the dying light. We’re tucked into the corner of a dead end, the sewer grate still open at our feet. But even with the streets being slowly abandoned for the evening, I still have no intention of sitting here in plain sight of anyone who happens by this alley.
“It’s not safe here,” I start. “Those guards will be looking for us.”
“Are we going to talk about it?” he asks, suddenly seeming much closer to me. He’s sitting up now, combing back damp hair with his fingers.
“I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
A cocky laugh. “Is that so? I could remind you, if you like?”
“It was a mistake,” I huff, turning to look into his face that is far too close. “This one and the one before.”
“The only mistake was not making it sooner.”
“I… That’s…” I’m stuttering. He smiles in that way that makes me want to slap him. Then he’s inching closer, slowly stealing the small space that separates us.
“No”—his fingers trail up my neck to trace my jaw—“the mistake was tasting you now that you likely won’t let me do it again.”
I swallow. Shudder. Suck in a breath.
Plagues help me.
His face is close enough for me to make a bad decision with little effort. Rough fingers are tangled in my hair, brushing the sensitive skin on my neck. Water drips from the tips of his hair, clinging to thick lashes surrounding the eyes staring heatedly into mine.
“You’re right,” I say breathlessly. “I won’t let you kiss me again.”
Lie.
I’m leaning in with every word falling from the lips that desperately want to meet his again. The corner of his mouth lifts, drawing my attention. “Are you sure about that?” His breath is warm, filling me with heat. I nod absentmindedly, my thoughts on anything but keeping my word.
A calloused hand is cupping my face, rougher than the reverence in which he held me earlier. I melt into his touch, leaning closer as his eyes drift to my lips. It’s intoxicating, watching him drink me in.
He inches closer, his hand roaming down my neck.
My breath catches as his lips brush mine and—
Something clamps around my ankle with a click.
I pull away, looking down to see the metal chain he brought out of the sewer with him. A single ankle cuff occupies each end of the three-foot chain. And he’s just fastened one of them to me.
“What the hell—”
I haven’t even finished spewing the rest of my profanity before he’sclamping the other end of the chain to his own ankle. My eyes drift from his end to mine, blinking at the short length tethering us together.
When I find my voice, it’s deceptively calm. “What did you do?”
“I just ensured that my mission makes it back to Ilya with me.”
I blink at him; at the blank expression he’s plastered onto his face. “You… you chained us together?!”
He shrugs. “It was the only way to ensure you’d stay with me.”
“And you…” My mind reels as I drag my fingers through my hair. “You planned this before we even left the prison. That’s why you took this chain from the wall.” I shake my head, scoffing as I turn away from him. “You bastard.”
I feel sick. I feel used. I feel at fault for this. Because I did this to myself. Not only did I save the Enforcer, but I also let myselfwanthim. But it was nothing more than distraction to the prince. A means to an end. And I was stupid enough to think it could have meant anything more.
The pathetic are punished. And now I’m chained to my captor.
“Paedyn—”
